For a lot of people with BP, taking AD's in the long-term can cause mania. My pdoc has put me on them short term if I'm very depressed (namely Effexor or Wellbutrin), but she points out if I'm on them longer than 3 or 4 months, I usually turn manic. So it really depends on the person. Anti-depressants can help some people with bipolar; for others, it is a flip of the switch and brings on mania.